The Audacious Finance Partner

by Andrew Codd

For anyone in the finance profession who feels they are not developing the critical skills to influence others and that their efforts are not getting recognized, The Audacious Finance Partner shows the quickest way to get tangible results for you and your organizations. Discover how to get to the right insights that deliver the most value; become a trusted advisor to the business and apply commercial teaching principles to combine influence with impact. These are areas not traditionally taught in finance courses or business schools; even though they are the soft skills employers and the next generation of leaders are calling out for. This book follows our main character who frustrated with his lack of success using traditional keeping-the-score approaches decides to push himself outside his comfort zone. He seeks out mentors who have found better and faster ways to develop the critical skills to influence and impact their organizations. Typical coaching and mentoring of these skills is time consuming and expensive, so the book’s chapters have been organized as a dialogue between mentor and mentee. This means you get the accelerated experience and value from being immersed in real-to-life conversations that have been concisely distilled from other successful finance partners of large, medium and small organizations covering most major industries across the globe. The Audacious Finance Partner is useful for those who have entered or work in today’s Finance world, from newly qualified accountants, graduates, MBAs to more seasoned finance managers and directors. Groups on the outside looking consultants, executives & others in leadership roles seeking to better understand finance business partnering can also expect to benefit. This book provides a solid platform to add value and translate valued insights for influence and impact. There are also further support materials and reference guides at the partner website www.afpsuccess.com. No longer feel disillusioned with the traditional keeping- the-score approaches to finance and accounting, instead learn a more meaningful way to build new valuable skills, make a positive difference, enjoy stimulating work and a successful career.

Genres: Finance

142 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 14, 2016

Reviews

[Kevin Chen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is written in a storytelling fashion, where the main character (the reader) is going through a journey of some key principles of business finance partnering. It makes the book easy to read and serves as a good pocket book when you want to be reminded on some key principles.

However, the format did not feel fully appropriate throughout the book, as it at times felt more like a kids book rather than book for professionals.

Another drawback to the book is the lack of concrete examples, e.g. cases from real firms. There are many good principles in the book, combining theory from e.g. Beyond Budgeting and presentation technique, but it felt hard to understand how you could apply them to your own situation as they were presented in a generalized manner.

Overall, it is a good book to start a journey as a finance partner, but don't expect to have found the holy grail after reading this book.